LAST Friday evening I had the pleasure of chairing a session at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association national seminar.

The excellent panel of speakers expressed views across a broad range of subjects, all under the banner of what the future holds for Irish bloodstock. A full report on proceedings is published on pages A20-21.

While a number of topical issues were discussed during the session, it is also striking that many matters and questions come up time and again, fuelling the need for days such as that held last week.

Though we have many top-class breeders and stud farms here, it must never be forgotten that the vast majority of producers in Ireland, 92% in total, own four mares or less according to recently published data from Weatherbys GSB.

Even more striking is the number who own one or two mares, and these account for 81% of all breeders. The divide between flat and National Hunt is a little clouded, given that 15% of mare owners would designate the intended career of the foals they produce as dual-purpose, but if we add that number to those who specify a career over jumps, it amounts to 45% of the broodmare sector.

The majority of mares, 55%, are therefore aimed at the flat market, and when you consider that the mare population is in or around 14,500 at any time in Ireland, this is a very valuable agri-based industry.

The National Hunt sector in Ireland towers over its British counterpart, where about 25% of the broodmare population which stands at less than 9,000 would be deemed to have a future over jumps or as dual-purpose horses.

However, breeding is not about numbers, and quality has to be the keyword on everyone’s lips as we embark this coming week on a new season. That word was used by the ITBA chairman at their recent awards night, it was emphasised by panellists at the national seminar, and it is reflected very much in the sales returns from the first of the 2017 auctions held in Ireland and Britain.

No one benefits from the production of poor quality animals. Breeders will see no return for them at the sales, stallion men get no kudos for their sires if they are covering mares with little pedigree or performance, and sale figures showing a high rate of unsold lots are no benefit to the company or the disappointed vendor.

The time to reflect hard on your broodmare and her worth is now.